Location: Anderlecht(Hybrid)
Languages: English
Employment Type: Freelance
Start Date: ASAP
Context of the mission/objective(s) of the job
We are seeking an experienced Delivery Lead / Program Manager to oversee large-scale Pharma R&D Digital Platform programs, specifically managing global CMS solutions (Drupal-based platforms) and their transformation to MaCH architecture (Contentful, next.js, Vercel). The role requires a seasoned leader with strong delivery governance, stakeholder management, risk mitigation, and budget management capabilities.
The Delivery Lead will be responsible for end-to-end program execution across 150+ global websites, ensuring compliance with pharma regulations (privacy, accessibility, SEO) while managing teams.
Responsibilities
Program & project management
- Manage the delivery of 150+ Drupal-based websites and oversee their migration to MaCH-based architecture.
- Define, plan, and execute project roadmaps including intake, scoping, estimation, delivery, and hypercare.
- Oversee development, QA, UAT, deployment, and support phases ensuring high-quality delivery.
- Implement risk-adjusted timelines to account for delays while maintaining delivery predictability.
- Lead project intake and pipeline management, ensuring prioritization aligns with client's global roadmap.
Stakeholder management
- Act as the primary interface with stakeholders (IT owners, Brand, Medical, Compliance, Affiliate teams).
- Manage governance meetings with bi-monthly demand reviews, ensuring alignment of resource and project planning.
- Communicate effectively with executive leadership, providing project status, risks, and mitigation strategies.
- Collaborate with agency partners, QA leads, and functional owners to align deliverables.
Budget & resource management
- Manage program budgets including quarterly forecasts, allocation, and variance reporting.
- Track budget consumption and provide clear justifications for overages (e.g., additional clean-up, scope changes).
- Optimize resource planning across internal teams, vendors, and flex resources to avoid idle time and bottlenecks.
- Drive cost-efficiency while ensuring delivery excellence.
- Risk & Compliance Management
- Identify risks early and establish risk mitigation strategies.
- Ensure websites comply with WCAG accessibility standards, GDPR/privacy, SEO, and security best practices.
- Coordinate with Security teams to address vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with SLAs.
- Provide Level 2 & Level 3 support governance and ensure 24/7 incident management for P1/P2 issues.
Leadership & team management
- Lead cross-functional delivery teams across Development, QA, DevOps, and Hypercare.
- Mentor and guide technical leads and developers, ensuring blockers are addressed timely.
- Drive collaboration between offshore, nearshore, and onsite teams.
Requirements
Qualifications & experience
- Education: Bachelor's in Engineering / Computer Science / IT or equivalent
- Experience: 10+ years in IT Program & Delivery Management with at least 5 years in Pharma R&D digital platforms
- Proven experience with CMS platforms (Drupal, WordPress) and large-scale CMS migrations to MaCH architecture
- Strong understanding of ITIL, ITSM processes (Incident, Change, Release, Problem Management)
- Demonstrated experience in budget management (multi-million € programs)
- Skilled in managing multi-vendor programs and global stakeholder governance
Key competencies
- Project & Program Management: Governance, planning, delivery tracking
- Budget Management: Forecasting, cost optimization, reporting
- Risk Mitigation: Proactive identification, dependency management, issue resolution
- Stakeholder Management: Executive communication, affiliate alignment, partner management
- Business Analysis: Translating requirements into delivery roadmaps
- Pharma R&D Knowledge: Exposure to clinical, medical, and regulatory requirements
- Resource Management: Capacity planning, team leadership, vendor coordination
Technical skills
- Project & Delivery Tools: Jira, Azure DevOps, ServiceNow, HPSM, Office 365
- CMS & Digital: Drupal, WordPress, Contentful, next.js, Vercel
- Database & Reporting: Oracle, MySQL, Power BI
- Monitoring & Automation: Splunk, Dynatrace
- Frameworks & Standards: ITIL, ITSM, Agile (Scrum, Kanban), WCAG, GDPR compliance
Soft skills
- Strong communication and presentation skills with executive presence
- Ability to balance business priorities, technical feasibility, and budget constraints
- Collaborative leadership style with focus on mentorship and team empowerment
- Problem-solving mindset with focus on delivery excellence
